Drawer slide

ABSTRACT

A drawer slide, having a plurality of slide members and a noise stop damper is provided. The slide members have a first elongate linear member and a second elongate linear member to slide within a channel defined by an interior surface of the first slide member. The first and second slide members each have a first end portion, a second end portion, and the interior surface defining the first and second channels, respectively. Preferably, the interior side edges of the first linear member and the exterior side edges of the immediate linear member further define a first pair of raceways within which a plurality of ball bearings and bearing spacers are alternately disposed to provide a smooth slide motion of the second slide member. The noise damper is a noise-absorbing cushion mounted to the interior surface of the second linear member at the second end portion thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates in general to a drawer slide, and moreparticularly, to a multi-member drawer slide with a noise damper.

Drawer slides that include multiple, substantially linear, metal slideseach sliding within the interior channel of the next successively largermember have been known in the art. By a succession of such metalmembers, a drawer or an object supported by such members may slidebetween a first position when the metal members are fully extended fromeach other and a second position when the metal members are fullyunextended.

The prior art drawer members make certain accommodations to theirsliding and suspension function. They may be made of light alloy metalsand incorporate relieved areas to reduce weight. The suspension betweenmembers may be by ball or roller bearings. A final one of the slidingmembers which attaches to a drawer, or other object, may be releasableand detachable from the other members so that the drawer may becompletely extracted from its sliding suspension within a cabinet. Thedrawer may be latched in both the extended and unextended positions in amanner prohibiting all movement among and between the members.

To perform the desired functions as described above, the sliding membersof the drawer slide are typically made of strong and durable metalmaterial. When the drawer supported by the drawer members slides to thesecond position, noise and impact are inevitable when the inner ends ofthe strong metal slides reach the fully unextended position.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A drawer slide including a plurality of slide members and a noise damperis provided. The slide members include at least a first elongate linearmember and a second elongate linear member. The first elongate linearmember includes a first end, a second end, and an interior surfacedefining a first elongate channel extending between the first and secondend. The second elongate linear member is configured to slide within thefirst channel. The second elongate linear member also has a first end, asecond end, and an interior surface defining a second elongate channelextending between the first end and the second end thereof. Preferably,the interior side edges of the first elongate linear member and theexterior side edges of the second elongate linear member further definea first pair of raceways within which a plurality of ball bearings andbearing spacers are alternately disposed to provide a smooth slidemotion of the second slide member. The noise damper includes anoise-absorbing cushion mounted to the interior surface of the secondlinear member at the second end of thereof.

The first elongate linear member is perforated with a plurality of holesto reduce the overall weight of the drawer slide. The first elongatelinear member also includes at least one mounting hole for mounting thedrawer slide to a cabinet or a wall to which a drawer is supported bythe drawer slide. The first elongate linear member further includes apin extending across the first channel at the second end thereof toprevent the second elongate linear member from sliding through. The pinis encircled with a rubber sheet to further reduce the noise caused whenthe second elongate linear member approaches the pin. Preferably, thebearings and bearing spacers are confined by a pair of pins extendingfrom the first end of the first elongate linear member towards the firstchannel and a pair of pins extending from the second end of the secondelongate linear member towards the first channel. Therefore, when thesecond elongate linear member slides to a fully extended position, thebearings and bearing spacers fit tightly between the first end of thefirst elongate linear member and the second end of the second elongatelinear member.

The second elongate linear member is also perforated with a plurality ofholes to reduce the overall weight of the drawer slide. Thenoise-absorbing cushion is preferably fitted to the second elongatelinear member by a pair of rivets and extends beyond the second end ofthe intermediate linear slide member in one direction, and into thesecond elongate channel in the other direction.

The drawer slide may further include a third elongate linear member toslide within the second channel. The third linear member also has afirst end and a second end, and the exterior side edges of the thirdlinear member and interior side edges of the second elongate linearmember define a pair of second bearing raceways for accommodating aplurality of bearings and bearing spacers. The bearings and the bearingspacers are confined by a pair of pins extending into the second channelfrom the second end of the third elongate linear member and a pair ofpins extending into the second channel from the first end of the secondelongate linear member.

The third elongate linear member has an interior surface defining athird channel, in which a fourth elongate linear member is fitted. Thefourth elongate linear member has a first end aligned with the first endof the third elongate linear member and a second end between the firstand second ends of the third elongate linear member. In one embodiment,the third elongate linear member includes a stopper protruding into thesecond channel at the second end of the fourth elongate linear member.

A drawer slide comprising an outermost linear member, at least oneintermediate slide member, and an innermost linear member is alsoprovided. The outermost linear member has a first end, a second end, andan interior side surface defining a first channel. The intermediateslide member is configured to slide within the first channel and has afirst end, a second end, and an interior surface defining a secondchannel. The first end of the intermediate slide member is aligned withthe first end of the first linear member when the second intermediateslide member slides to a fully unextended position. The innermost linearmember is configured to slide within the second channel. The innermostlinear member has a first end aligned with the first end of theintermediate slide member and a second end between the first and secondend of the intermediate member. The drawer slide also includes noisedamper mounted to the second end of the intermediate slide member.

The noise damper includes a rubber cushion extending beyond the secondend of the intermediate slide member. In the case that the drawer slidecomprises a plurality of intermediate slide members, the noise damperincludes at least one rubber cushion mounted to the interior surface ofthe intermediate slide member extends beyond the second end of theintermediate linear slide member in one direction, and into the secondelongate channel in the other direction. The interior side edges of theoutermost linear member and exterior side edges of the intermediateslide member define a pair of raceways in which a plurality of bearingsand bearing spacers are disposed. The bearing spacers are preferablyfabricated from noise absorbing plastic material. The outermost linearmember further includes a pin extending across the first channel at thesecond end thereof to prevent the intermediate slide member to slide outof the outermost linear member. To further suppress the noise caused byrelative slide motion of the outermost linear member and intermediateslide member, the pin is covered with a noise absorbing sheet.

The present invention further provides a noise damper for reducing noisecaused by sliding motions of a drawer slide having a plurality of linearslide members. The noise damper includes a rubber cushion mounted at oneend of at least an intermediate one of the linear slide members andextends beyond the end of the intermediate linear slide member in onedirection, and into the second elongate channel in the other direction.Thereby, when the intermediate slide member slides towards itsimmediately adjacent slide member, the noise caused by such slide motioncan be effectively suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the exterior side of a drawer slideat its fully extended position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the interior side of the drawerslide as shown in FIG. 1 at its fully extended position;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the interior side of the drawer slide asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 at its fully extended position;

FIG. 3A is an end view of the drawer slide viewed from the line 3A-3Awhen the drawer slide slides to its fully extended position as shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of the drawer slide along the cuttingline 3B-3B when the drawer slide slides to its fully extended positionas shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view of the drawer slide along the cuttingline 3C-3C when the drawer slide slides to its fully extended positionas shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3D is an end view of the drawer slide observing from the line 3D-3Dwhen the drawer slide slides to its fully extended position as shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the drawer slide showing the interior sideof slide members;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the drawer slide showing the exterior sideof the slide members;

FIG. 6 shows the drawer slide at its partially withdrawn (unextended)position;

FIG. 7 shows the drawer slide at its fully withdrawn position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the drawer slide showing the interiorside of the slide members, including a rubber cushion; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of the drawer slide showing the interiorside of the slide members, including a bearing spacer disposed between aroll pin and a spacer pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A drawer slide including a plurality of sliding members and a noisedamper is provided and shown in FIGS. 1-7. In application, two sets ofthe sliding members with reversed image orientations will be mounted attwo opposing sides (left and right, for example) of the drawer forsupporting the slide motion of the drawer. It will be appreciated that,although FIGS. 1-7 illustrates a drawer slide including four linearmembers, the number and length of the slide members may be alteredaccording to the dimension of the specific drawer supported thereby orother specific requirement without exceeding the scope of presentinvention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drawer slide includes a first, outermost,elongate linear member 10, a second, intermediate, elongate linearmember 20, a third, intermediate, elongate linear member 30, and afourth, innermost, elongate linear member 40. The first linear member 10has a first interior channel 11 and the second linear member 21 has asecond interior channel 20, allowing the second and third linear members20 and 30 to slide between a fully extended position and a fullyunextended position. The third linear member 30 also includes a thirdinterior channel 31 in which the fourth linear member 40 is fitted. Eachof the first, second, third, and fourth linear members 10, 20, 30, and40 has a first (outer) end portion and a second (inner) end portion; forexample, the first and second end portions 12 and 13 of the first linearmember 10, the first and second end portions 22 and 23 of the secondlinear member 20, the first and second end portions 32 and 33 of thethird linear member 30, and the first and second end portions of 42 and43 of the fourth linear member 40. The first and second end portions 12and 13 of the first linear member 10 include first and second edges 62and 63, respectively. Likewise, the first and second end portions 23 and23 of the second linear member 20 also include first and second edges 72and 73, respectively. The first and second end portions 32 and 33 of thethird linear member 30 includes first and second edges 82 and 83,respectively, and the first and second end portions 42 and 43 of thefourth linear member 40 includes first and second edges 92 and 93,respectively. When the first, second and third linear members 10, 20 and30 are disposed at their extended positions as illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2, the first edge 72 of the second linear member 20 extends beyondthe first edge 62 of the first linear member 10, and the first edge 82of the third linear member 30 extends beyond the first edge 72 of thesecond linear member 20. When the first, second and third linear members10, 20 and 30 are disposed at their fully unextended positions, thefirst edges 62, 72 and 82 of the first, second and third linear members10, 20, and 30 are aligned and proximate to each other as shown in FIG.6. As the fourth linear member 40 is fitted within the third channel 31,the relative position of the fourth linear member 40 to the third member30 remains unchanged. Therefore, the first edge 92 of the fourth linearmember 40 is maintained aligned and approximate to the first edge 82 ofthe third linear member 30, while the second edge 93 of the fourthlinear member 40, in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, is fixedposition between the first and second edges 82 and 83 within the channel31 of the third linear member 30.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first linear member 10 includes aplurality of relieved areas or holes 14 in order to reduce weight. Aplurality of countersunk or mounting holes 15 are also formed formounting the first linear member 10 to the interior wall of a cabinet bymounting screws or bolts in a manner which allows the second linearmember 20 to slide through without obstruction within the first channel11 thereof. The first linear member 10 includes a pin 17 extendingacross the first channel 11 at the second end portion 13 thereof toprevent the second linear member 20 from sliding through. The interiorside edges of the first channel 11 and the exterior side edges of thesecond linear member 20 define bearing raceways within which steel ballbearings 50 and bearing spacers 51 (as shown in the exploded view ofFIG. 4) are alternately disposed. The bearings 50 and the bearingspacers 51 are confined by a pair of roll pins 16 extending from thefirst linear member 10 into the first channel 11 at the first endportion 12 thereof and a pair of roll pins 27 extending from the secondlinear member 20 into the first channel 11 at the second end portion 23thereof. Therefore, when the second linear member 20 slides to fullyunextended position where the second edge 73 of the second linear member20 is aligned with the second edge 63 of the first linear member 10, thebearings 50 and the bearing spacers 51 are free to move within theentire first channel 11. When the second linear member 20 slides to afully extended position, the bearings 50 and the bearing spacers 51 fittightly within the bearing raceways between the first edge 62 of thefist linear member 10 and the second edge 73 of the second linear member20 as shown in FIG. 2. A pair of spacer pins 18 also extends from thefirst linear member 10 into the first channel 11. The spacer pins 18 areinterposed between the roll pins 16 and the first edge 62 of the firstlinear member 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, abearing spacer 51 is disposed between each roll pin 16 and each spacerpin 18. In this regard, the bearing spacer 51 disposed between the rollpin 16 and the spacer pin 18 does not travel along the bearing raceway.Rather, it is maintained in its position by the roll pin 16 and thespacer pin 18.

Similar to the first linear member 10, the second linear member 20 alsoincludes a plurality of released areas or holes 24 in order to reducethe overall weight of the drawer slide. The interior side edges of thesecond channel 21 and the exterior side edges of the third linear member30 jointly define bearing raceways in each of which a plurality bearings50 and a plurality of bearing spacers 51 are alternately disposed. Thebearings 50 and bearing spacers 51 disposed within the second channel 21are confined by a pair of pins 26 extending into the second channel 21from the first end 22 of the second linear member 20 and a pair of pins37 extending into the second channel 21 from the second end 33 of thethird linear member 30. Therefore, when the third linear member 30slides to the fully unextended position where the second end 33 of thethird linear member 30 is aligned with the second end 23 of the secondlinear member 20, the bearings 50 and the bearing spacers 50 are free tomove within the entire second channel 21. When the third linear member30 slides to a fully extended position, the bearings 50 and the bearingspacers 51 fit tightly within the bearing raceways between the firstedge 72 of the second linear member 20 and the second edge 83 of thethird linear member 30 as shown in FIG. 2.

Instead of being slidable within the third channel 31, the fourth linearmember 40 is fitted to the third channel 31 between the first edge 82 ofthe third member 30 and a stopping member 47 protruding from an interiorsurface of the third member 30 into the third channel 31. As shown inFIGS. 2, 3 and 3A, the fourth linear member 40 includes an interiorlinear portion received within the channel 31 and an exterior linearportion extending over the channel 31. Preferably but optionally, thefourth linear member 40 also includes the released areas such as holes44 perforated therethrough to reduce the overall weight of the drawerslide. In one embodiment, the first, second, and fourth members 10, 20,and 40 may include as many holes 14, 24 and 44 as possible to reduce theoverall weight of the drawer slide while the drawer slide is stilloperative to support a drawer or an object up to 100 pounds.

Referring to FIG. 5, the third linear member 30 may be perforated with acavity 35 in which a latch 36 is installed. Preferably, the cavity 35 islocated at the portion where the third linear member 30 is overlappedwith the fourth linear member 40. The latch 36 operates by aspring-loaded wedge which is pin mounted to the third linear member 30.The wedging surface of the spring-loaded wedge is substantially a flatchisel surface, and the cavity 35 is preferably square in shapepresenting a flat opposing wall to the chisel surface.

To reduce the noise caused by sliding the linear members 10, 20, 30 (and40), the second edge 73 of the second linear member 20 is equipped witha noise damper. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 3D, when thesecond and third linear members 20 and 30 slide to the fully unextendedposition, the second edges 63, 73 of the first and second linear members20 and 30 are brought in direct contact with the pin 17 to create inimpact and noise. The pin 17 is thus preferably encircled with an impactand noise absorbing rubber sheet. In addition, a rubber cushion 28 ispreferably mounted to the second linear member 20 at the second endportion 23 thereof. The rubber cushion 28 can be attached to the secondlinear member 20 via two rivets 29 extending through the second linearmember 20. As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the pins 27 extending towards thechannel 11 may also extend towards the rubber cushion 28 through theside edge of the second linear member 20. Preferably, the rubber cushion28 extends beyond the second edge 73 of the second linear member 20 inone direction and into the second channel 21 in the other direction.Therefore, when the second linear member 20 slides to the fullyunextended position, the rubber cushion 28 will be the first member orobject in direct contact to the pin 17 of the first linear member 10. Asthe rubber cushion 28 is preferably fabricated from resilient materialthat will temporarily deform upon impact to consequently absorb thenoise, the mechanical fatigue and noise caused by the relative slidingmotion between the first and second linear members 10 and 20 areeffectively suppressed. Similarly, when the third linear member 30slides to the fully unextended position, the second edge of the thirdlinear member 83 will be brought in direct contact with the rubbercushion 28 before reaching the pins 27. Thereby, the noise and impactcaused by the relative slide motion between the second and third linearmembers 20 and 30 can be suppressed.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with eachother and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinationdescribed herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited bythe illustrated embodiments.

1. A drawer slide, comprising: a first elongate linear member having afirst end portion including a first edge, a second end portion includinga second edge, and an interior surface defining a first channelextending between the first end portion and the second end portion; asecond elongate linear member to slide within the first channel, thesecond linear member having a first end portion including a first edge,a second end portion including a second edge, and an interior surfacedefining a second channel extending between the first end portion andthe second end portion thereof, wherein interior side edges of the firstelongate linear member and exterior side edges of the second elongatelinear member further define a first pair of raceways; a plurality ofball bearings and bearing spacers alternately disposed within each ofthe first raceways; and a noise absorbing cushion mounted to theinterior surface of the second elongate linear member at the second endthereof.
 2. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the first elongatelinear member is perforated with a plurality of holes to reduce theweight of the slide drawer.
 3. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein thefirst elongate linear member is perforated with at least one mountinghole.
 4. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the first elongate linearmember includes a pin extending across the first channel at the secondend portion thereof.
 5. The drawer slide of claim 4, wherein the pin isencircled with a rubber sheet.
 6. The drawer slide of claim 1, whereinthe first elongate linear member includes a pair of pins extendingtowards the first channel at the first end portion thereof.
 7. Thedrawer slide of claim 1, wherein the second elongate linear member isperforated with a plurality of holes.
 8. The drawer slide of claim 1,wherein the second elongate linear member includes a pair of roll pinsextending towards the first channel at the second end portion thereof,and the first elongate linear member includes a pair of roll pinsextending into the first channel from the first end portion thereof toconfine the bearings and bearing spacers within the first bearingraceways.
 9. The drawer slide of claim 8, wherein the first elongatemember includes a pair of spacer pins extending toward the firstchannel, the spacer pins being interposed between the roll pins and thefirst edge.
 10. The drawer slide of claim 1, wherein the bearing spacersare fabricated by noise-absorbing plastic material.
 11. The drawer slideof claim 1, wherein the noise-absorbing cushion extends beyond thesecond edge of the second elongate linear member.
 12. The drawer slideof claim 1, wherein the noise-absorbing cushion is fitted to the secondelongate linear member via a pair of rivets extending through the secondlinear member.
 13. The drawer slide of claim 1, further comprising athird linear member to slide within the second channel, the thirdelongate linear member having a first end portion and a second endportion.
 14. The drawer slide of claim 13, wherein exterior side edgesof the third elongate linear member and interior side edges of thesecond elongate linear member defines a pair of second bearing raceways.15. The drawer slide of claim 14, further comprising a plurality ofbearings and bearing spacers alternatively disposed within each of thesecond bearing raceways.
 16. The drawer slide of claim 15, wherein thethird elongate linear member includes a pair of roll pins extending intothe second channel at the second end portion thereof, and the secondelongate linear member includes a pair of roll pins extending into thesecond channel from the first end portion thereof to confine thebearings and bearing spacers within the second bearing raceways.
 17. Thedrawer slide of claim 15, wherein the third elongate linear member hasan interior surface defining a third channel.
 18. The drawer slide ofclaim 17, further comprising a fourth elongate linear member fittedwithin the third channel, the fourth elongate linear member having afirst end portion aligned with the first end portion of the thirdelongate linear member and a second end portion positioned between thefirst and second end portions of the third elongate linear member. 19.The drawer slide of claim 17, wherein the third elongate linear memberincludes a stopper protruding into the third channel at the second endportion of the fourth elongate linear member.
 20. A drawer slide,comprising: an outermost linear member having a first end portion, asecond end portion, and an interior side surface defining a firstchannel; at least one intermediate slide member to slide within thefirst channel, the intermediate slide member having a first end portion,a second end portion including a second edge, and an interior surfacedefining a second channel, wherein the first end portion of theintermediate slide member is aligned with the first end portion of theoutermost linear member when the intermediate slide member slides to afully unextended position; an innermost linear member fitted to theintermediate slide member within the second channel, wherein theinnermost linear member has a first end portion aligned with the firstend portion of the intermediate slide member when the innermost slidemember slides to a fully unextended position; and a noise damper mountedto the second end portion of the intermediate slide member.
 21. Thedrawer slide of claim 20, wherein the noise damper includes a rubbercushion extending beyond the second edge of the intermediate slidemember.
 22. The drawer slide of claim 20, comprising a plurality ofintermediate slide members, wherein the noise damper includes a rubbercushion mounted to at least the intermediate slide member immediatelyadjacent to the outermost linear member.
 23. The drawer slide of claim20, wherein interior side edges of the outermost linear member andexterior side edges of the intermediate slide member define a pair ofraceways in which a plurality of bearings and bearing spacers aredisposed.
 24. The drawer slide of claim 23, wherein the bearing spacersare fabricated from noise absorbing plastic material.
 25. The drawerslide of claim 20, wherein the outermost linear member further includesa pin extending across the first channel at the second end portionthereof.
 26. The drawer slid of claim 25, wherein the pin is coveredwith a noise absorbing sheet.
 27. A noise damper for reducing noisecaused by sliding motions of a drawer slide having a plurality of linearslide members, comprising: a rubber cushion mounted at one end portionof at least an intermediate one of the linear slide members.
 28. Thenoise stop device of claim 27, wherein the rubber cushion extends beyondthe end portion of the at least one of the linear slide member.